Th17 Cells as Potential Probiotic Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Eddy Owaga²  Rong-Hong Hsieh¹  Beatrice Mugendi²  Sakhile Masuku³  Chun-Kuang Shih¹  Jung-Su Chang¹ 

[1] School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Xing Street, 110 Taipei, Taiwan; E-Mails:;Institute of Food and Bioresources Technology, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, 10100 Nyeri, Kenya; E-Mails:;Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Swaziland, H100 Mbabane, Swaziland; E-Mail:

关键词: Th17;    IL-17;    probiotics;    inflammatory bowel diseases;    inflammation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160920841

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by wasting and chronic intestinal inflammation triggered by various cytokine-mediated pathways. In recent years, it was shown that T helper 17 (Th17) cells are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, which makes them an attractive therapeutic target. Th17 cells preferentially produce interleukin (IL)-17A–F as signature cytokines. The role of the interplay between host genetics and intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD was demonstrated. Probiotics are live microorganisms that when orally ingested in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host by modulating the enteric flora or by stimulating the local immune system. Several studies indicated the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing and treating IBD (ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease). Furthermore, there is mounting evidence of probiotics selectively targeting the Th17 lineage in the prevention and management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as IBD. This review highlights critical roles of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of IBD and the rationale for using probiotics as a novel therapeutic approach for IBD through manipulation of Th17 cells. The potential molecular mechanisms by which probiotics modulate Th17 cells differentiation and production are also discussed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.